The Complete Poetry of John Milton (159 page)

HOBSONS EPITAPH
Date:
early 1631; Hobson died on Jan. 1, 1631.

This third poem on Hobson is included with qualification. Never published by Milton, it has similarities to his acknowledged verses, which it follows in
Banquet of Jests
and precedes in
Wit Restor’d.
William R. Parker, who first proposed Milton’s authorship (Columbia Milton, XVIII, 590–92), suggests that it may have been omitted from 1645 because two poems in this vein may have been considered sufficient. A poem in Harleian MS 6057, f. 15, with the title, “On Hobson the Carrier,” employs the first two lines; variants: amongst his
many / with some not his; not learned / vnlearned; yet of many / and yett a man of.
S
and
T
give alternate indentations of lines; and
L
copies as if this is the “Superscription” mentioned in the last line of the previous poem.

Title
On Hobson the Carrier. B, On the death of
Hobson,
the
Cambridge-
Carrier D, V, missing E, F, L
, In Hobsonum Architabellarium Cantabrigiensem. 1631.
G
, on hobson the Cambridge Carrier.
H
, An Other:
I, O
, An Epitaph on Hobson the Carrier of Cambridge
K
, On Chambridge Carrier
M
, Upon Thomas Hobson, y
^e
Carryer of Cambridge
N
, Upon Hobson the Carrier
P
, On Hobson died 1 Jan 1630
Q
, Vpon Mr. Hobson, carryer of Cambridge.
R
, On Hobson the Carrier Buried in St Maryes in Cambrdige
S
, Hobsons Epitaph the Carrier of Cambredge
T
, Vpon Hobson y
^e
Cambridge Carrier.
U
, on the death of Hobson
X.
(1) Here
Hobson
lies amongst his many / Here lies Hobson amongst his many
E, F, N, O
, Here lies Hobson moungst his many
H
, Heere lies old Hobson among his
P
, Hobson lies heare amongst his many
T;
amongst / among
X;
many /
omitted O;
betters
D
/ debters
A, C, L, U.
(2) A man / who though
Q;
not learned
D
/ unlearned
A, B, C, E, F, G, J, L, W;
yet of many / yet a man of
B, H, I, J, N, P, R, S, V, W
, and yet of many
E, F
, and yet a man of
G, Y
, yet was a man of
Q
, but yet of many
T.
(3–4)
omitted B, G, H, I, N, P, Q, R, S, V.
(3) The / Yee
U;
well / all
J, W;
testify / justifie
D.
(4) That have / Who have
D, X
, But he
E, F
, That have oft
O
, That oft
T;
from / in
E, F.
(5–6)
reversed Q.
(5) it was well known hee many times had gone
Q;
was well / is well
D, E, F, P, Y
, well was
T, X;
oft /
omitted L;
hath he gon
D
/ t’have begun
A, C, L
, haue he gon
H
, he hath gon
V.
(6) In Embassy / An Embassie
D, E, F
, In an embassage
G
, an Embassage
H
, On Embassies
I, K, Y
, On embassage
J, N, O, R, S
, In an Embassy
L
, On an embassage
P, X
, On Embassi
T
, His Embassy
U;
father / morning Y; the / a
E, F, omitted G, P, X.
(7) There’s few in Cambridge, to his praise be it spoken
B;
in good time / to his praise
G, H, I, J, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y.
(8) well remembreth / may remember
B, I, K, P
, will remember
D, F, G, H, M, R, S, U, X
, well remember
E, L, N, Q, T, V, Y
, do remember
J
, well remembers
O
, can remember
W;
som / a
M;
good /
missing H.
(9) thence / whence
B
, hence
P, W;
to
London
rode he / he rid to London
B.
(10) benighting
D
/ benighted
A, C, H, V, Y;
he / nere
V.
(11–12)
missing J, W.
(11–18)
printed:
13–14, 11–12, 17–18
B.
(11) Then marueile not, though he soe soone is gone
T;
No / Nor
B, D, M, N, S;
wonder is it / is’t a wonder
B
, wonder thinke yee
G
, wonder thinke it
H, N, S
, wonder thinks it
R.
(12) Since most men / Since all men
B, K, P
, For most
G
, For most men
H, N, R, S
, For all men
T, V;
knew / know
D, E, F, H, I, M, N, P, Q, X
, know, that
G;
long / still
V.
(13) Team / Terme
U;
of the best / very good
J, W;
could / would
B, P, Q.
(14) Bin mir’d in any ground / Bin mir’d in any way
B, P, Q, V, Y
, Them mir’d in any ground
D
, In any way beene mir’d
G
, beene mired any where
H
, Bin mir’d in any place
I, R, S
, Stucke fast in any ground
J, W
, Bin mir’d so
M
, Bin beemir’d any where
N;
the
D
/ his
A, C, E, F, J, L, V
, a
N, R, S, Y.
(15–16)
omitted B.
(15) here
K
/ there
A, C, D, G, M, N, R, S, W, X;
indeed, still / & still is
G
, indeed, and
J, W
, still
P;
like to
D
/ at a
A, C, l.
(16) Until / Except
J
, Unles
T
, Till
V;
some / an
J
, some good
V;
lend / lens
J
, his
D
/ a
A, C, H, I, L, M, U, Y
, some
K
, an
X.
(17–18)
indented l.
(17) So / Thus
B, G, H, I, N, P, Q, R, S, V
, Then
M;
rest / rests
D
, eu
^r
rest
O;
thou / the
D;
ever-toyling / everlasting
B
, dusty toyling
G
, toyling
O.
(18) to
Charls–wain / Charls his Waine
B, D, I, J, K, L, N, O, T, U, W, X
, Charles Waine
H, M, Y
, Charlemaine
Q
, to Charles his wayne
R, S.

AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER
Date:
Apr. 1631; the Marchioness died on Apr. 15, 1631.
Texts:
1645*, 1673; British Museum MS, Sloane 1446, ff. 37b–38. The manuscript has a note of authorship: “Jo Milton of Chr: Coll Cambr.”
Title
On the Marchionesse of Winchester whoe died in Child bedd. Ap: 15. 1631
MS.
(15–23)
MS has:
Seauen times had the yeerlie starre | in euerie signe sett vpp his carr | Since for her they did request | the god that sitts at marriage feast | (when first the earlie Matrons runne |. (24) a / her
MS.
(27) whether / whither
MS.
(40) vernall / a vernall
MS.
(42) on / one
MS.
(43) she / it
MS.
(46) hast’ning / hastinge
MS.
(47)
indented
MS; thy / the
MS.
(49) thy / they
MS.
(50) sease / ceaze
MS.
(52) thy / thine
MS.
(53)
indented
MS. (61) Whilst / While
MS.
(64) Who / w
^ch
MS.
(70) Light; / might
MS.

L’ALLEGRO
Date:
1631 ?; conjectural, but later than the Hobson poems which it follows in 1645. Ants Oras indicates (
NQ
, 198, 1953, 332–33) that the prosody of
L’Allegro
and
Penseroso
is later than that of the
Epitaph on the Marchioness.
The twin poems may have been written during the summer vacation.
Texts:
1645*, 1673.
(33) ye / you
1673.
(104) he by / by the
1673.

IL PENSEROSO
Date:
1631 ?; conjectural, but later than the Hobson poems which it follows in 1645. See note to
L’Allegro.
Texts:
1645*, 1673. A correction in Milton’s hand is found in the Bodleian Library copy of 1645 (catalogued 8* M168 Art, but kept as Arch G.f.17): l. 57, “Id” changed to “In”.
(57) In
1673
/ Id
1645.

SONNET 7
Date:
Dec. 1632; l. 2 places the poem after the year during which he was twenty-three (1631–32).
Texts:
1645*, 1673, TM*.
(2) twentith / twentieth
1673.

ARCADES
Date:
1633–34 ?; probably revised in 1637 (see Shawcross, “Speculations”). Date is very uncertain, but composition undoubtedly lies before that of
Mask.
Texts:
1645*, 1673, TM*. A number of lines of TM have been damaged by tearing. TM has early title “Part of a maske” which is replaced by “Part of an Entertainment at.…” The first song is not labelled; therefore, the second song is simply “Song” in TM, and the third, “2 Song”.
(28) ye / you
TM.
(40) ye … ye / you … you
TM.
(47) With / in
TM, deleted.
(49) or
TM
/ and
1645, 1673.
(81) ye / you
TM;
toward / towards
TM.
(91) you / yee
TM.
(94)
aligned with lines 84, 85, etc.
1645,
1673. (96)
not indented
1645, 1673. (101) ye / you
TM.
(104)
not indented
1645, 1673. (105)
not indented
1645, 1673.

A MASK
Date:
before Sept. 29, 1634, date of first performance; revised and enlarged c. Sept.–Dec. 1637.
Texts:
1637, 1645*, 1673; TM*, Bridgewater MS. Two mss of five songs written by Henry Lawes are extant: British Museum Add. MS 11,518 (in an unknown hand) and the Lawes MS (in Lawes’ hand). The songs are: ll. 976–83, 992–95, 998–99 (Song 1); 230–43 (Song 2); 859–66 (Song 3); 958–75 (Song 4 in two parts); 1012–23 (Song 5). There are a number of musical differences between the two manuscripts. Verbal variants from the present text are as follows: (976) To the Ocean / From the Heav’ns
BMS, LMS.
(981) gardens / Garden
BMS, LMS.
(999) young
Adonis
soft / many’a Cherub oft
BMS, LMS.
(231) cell / shell
BMS, LMS.
(233) the / thy
BMS, LMS.
(241) Parly / Pity
BMS.
(242) translated / Transplanted
BMS, LMS.
(243) And give resounding grace / & hold a Counterpoint
BMS, LMS.
(859) Sabrina / Sabrina Sabrina
BMS, LMS.
(866) Listen / Listen Listen
BMS, LMS.
(965) On … on / o’re … o’re
BMS, LMS.
(967) ye / you
BMS, LMS.
(1012) But now / Now
BMS, LMS.
(1014) green earths / Earths green
BMS, LMS.
Lines 1021–22 also appear in Milton’s hand in the album of Camillus Cardoyn, June 10, 1639. The Bridgewater presentation volume of 1637, in the Carl Pforzheimer Library, contains the following manuscript corrections in Milton’s hand: (20) my / by; (49) comma after “Coasting” deleted; (73) in / is; (131) at / art; (223) sables / sable; (417) “you” inserted; (443) we / she; (474) sensualitie / sensualtie; (781) reproachfull / contemptuous
List of
dramatis personae
given only in 1645. Instead of
Spirit
, the MSS use
Dæmon;
the
Elder Brother
is frequently called
1 Bro.
(dir.)
The … enters.
/ A Guardian Spirit, or Dæmon.
TM
, then a guardian spiritt or demon descendes or enters.
BM.
(Lines 975–82, 987–94, 994A, 995, 997–98)
given as prologue before l. 1 in BM.
(2) shapes / shape
1673.
(6) with / w
^ch
BM.
(12) by / with
BM.
(18)
not indented
TM, BM. (20) by / my
1637.
(26) gives / give
TM.
(43) you
TM
/ ye
1637, 1645.
(46)
not indented
TM; grape / Grapes
BM.
(58) Whom / w
^ch
BM.
(62) shade
TM
/ shades
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(73) is / in
1637.
(83) robes / webs
BM.
(dir., 92–93)
Comus enters w
^th
a charming rod & glasse of liquor with his rout all headed like some wild beasts thire garments some like mens & some like womens they come on in a wild & antick fashion
TM; his glass
/ & a glass of liquor
BM; headed … women
, / like men & women but headed like wild beasts
BM.
(99) dusky / Northerne
BM.
(123) has
TM
/ hath
1637, 1645, 1673.
(131) art / at
1637.
(132) spirts
TM
/ spets
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(dir., 144–45)
The Measure.
/ the measure (in a wild rude & wanton antick)
TM, BM.
(161) glozing / gloweinge
BM.
(167)
omitted
1673; thrift / thirst
TM, in scribe’s hand.
(168)
reversed with l. 169
1673. (169)
reversed with l. 168
1673; heer. / hear
erratum for 1673.
(170)
Lady. / omitted
1637, 1645, 1673, TM; mine / my
TM, BM.
(174) amongst
TM
/ among
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(188–90)
omitted
BM. (189) weeds
TM
/ weed
1645, 1673.
(195) stoln / stole
1645, 1673;
els … night /
omitted
BM. (196–225)
omitted
BM. (201) the /
missing
TM.
(214) flittering
TM
/ hovering
1645, 1673, TM in scribe’s hand.
(223) sable / sables
1637.
(226) hallow / hollowe
BM.
(229) off. / hence
TM, BM.
(231) cell
TM
/ shell
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(241)
of
/ to
BM.
(243)
And give resounding grace
/ And hould a Counterpoint
BM.
(dir., 243–44) Comus looks in and speaks
TM, BM.
(252) she
TM
/ it
1645, 1673.
(270) prosperous / prosperinge
BM.
(291) Two such / Such tow
TM.
(294) ‘em
TM
/ them
1637, 1645, 1673.
(300) colours / cooleness
BM.
(304) To /
omitted, but given as catchword
BM. (312) wide
TM
/ wilde
1645, 1673
, wild
TM in scribe’s hand, 1637.
(317) roosted / rooster
BM.
(dir., 330–31) the tow brothers enter
TM.
(349) this close / lone
BM.
(356) What if / or els
BM.
(357–65)
missing
TM, BM;
three other lines are found:
so fares as did forsaken Proserpine | when the big rowling flakes of pitchie clowds | & darknesse wound her in. 1 bro. Peace, brother peace |. (370) trust / hope
BM.
(384) walks in black vapours, though the noone tyde brand
BM.
(385) blaze in the summer solstice
BM.
(390) a / an
1637, BM.
(399) treasure / treasures
BM.
(401) on / at
BM.
(402) let / she
BM.
(403) wild / wide
TM, BM.
(409) controversie: / question, no
TM, BM.
(409 ff.)
TM, BM give five additional undeleted lines:
I could be willing though now i’th darke to trie | a tough encounter w
^th
the shaggiest ruffian | that lurks by hedge or lane of this dead circuit | to have her by my side, though I were sure | she might be free from perill were she is |. (410) Yet / but
TM, BM.
(413) banish gladly
TM
/ gladly banish
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(415) imagine, / imagine brother
TM, BM.
(417) if you mean / if meane
1637.
(428) there, / even
TM, BM.
(432) Som say / naye more
BM.
(433) moorie
TM
/ moorish
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(437) Has
TM
/ Hath
1645, 1673.
(438) ye / you
BM.
(443) she / we
1637.
(444) naught
TM
/ nought
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(448) That / the
BM.
(460) Begin / begins
BM.
(465) But / and
TM, BM;
lewd and lavish / lewde lascivious
BM.
(472) Hovering,
TM
/ Lingering,
1645, 1673.
(474) sensualty / sensuality
1637, 1673, BM.
(481) off / of
1673, BM;
hallow / hollowe
BM.
(dir., 488–89) he hallows the guardian Dæmon hallows agen & enters in the habit of shepheard
TM
, he hallowes and is answered, the guardian dæmon comes in habited like a shepheard.
BM.
(493) fathers
TM
/ father
1637, 1645, 1673.
(497) thou /
omitted
BM; Swain? / shepheard,
TM, BM.
(498) his
TM
/ the
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(513) you.
TM
/ ye,
1645, 1673.
(520)
not indented
TM. (547) mediate / mediate upon 1673. (553) frighted / flighted
TM.
(555) soft / sweete,
BM.
(556) a / the softe
BM;
steam / stream 1673; rich /
omitted
BM. (563) did / might
TM, BM.
(572) knew) / knowe)
BM.
(581) ye / yon
BM.
(605) buggs
TM
/ forms
1645, 1673.
(608) and cleave his scalp
TM
/ to a foul death,
1645, 1673.
(609) Down to the hipps.
TM
/ Curs’d as his life.
1645, 1673.
(610) Thy / The
BM.
(616) thy self /
omitted
BM. (626) ope / open
BM.
(632–37)
missing
BM. (637) Which
TM
/ That
1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(657) Ile / I
TM, BM.
(dir., 657–58)
State 1 of l. 1 found in British Museum copy
(
C.34.d.46
)
of 1637; soft Musick, / missing
TM, BM;
appears
/ is discover’d
TM; to whom … rise.
/ she offers to rise
TM.
(678A) poore ladie thou hast neede of some refreshinge
BM.
(679–87)
missing
BM. (688) have / hast
BM.
(689) have / hast
BM;
but / heere
BM.
(697–700)
missing
BM. (698) forgeries
TM
/ forgery
1637, 1645, 1673.
(709) sallow / shallow
BM.
(731) multitude / multitude
1637.
(733, 734)
combined into one line in BM:
would soe emblaze with
starrs, that they belowe (737–55)
missing
BM. (743) a / an
TM.
(746) on
TM
/ and
1637, 1645, 1673.
(751) or
TM
/ and
1637, 1645, 1673.
(758) mine / my
BM.
(779, 806)
combined into one line in TM, BM:
cramms & blasphems his feeder. Come no more (779–806)
missing
TM, BM. (780) anough? / anow?
1673.
(781) contemptuous / reproachfull
1637.
(dir., 813–14)
with Swords … ground;
/ strike his glasse downe
TM
, with swords … glasse of liquor out … ground
BM; his rout … resistance
/ the shapes make as though they would resist
TM; The attendant … in.
/ Dæmon enter w
^th
them
TM
, the Demon is to come in with the brothers
BM.
(814) you / yee
BM;
let / left
BM.
(821) which / that
TM, BM.
(824)
not indented
TM. (828) That / whoe
BM.
(829) She / The
1673.
(834) pearled / peackled
BM.
(846A)
undeleted line in TM:
and often takes our cattell w
^th
strange pinches. (847)
omitted
BM. (857) besetting / distressed
TM.
(dir., 866–67) The verse to singe or not.
BM.
(871–72)
assigned to
El bro:
BM.
(873–74)
assigned to
2 bro:
BM.
(875–76)
assigned to
El br:
BM.
(877–78)
assigned to
2 br:
BM.
(879–82)
assigned to
El br:
BM.
(883)
song from this line onward assigned to
De:
BM.
(dir. 889–90)
by
/ w
^th
TM; water
/ the water
TM, BM; and sings.
/ Sings
TM.
(890–901)
indentations are inconsistent in texts; TM is followed in present version.
(897)
set
/ rest
BM.
(898)
velvet
/
omitted
BM. (900–1)
given as part of song 1637, 1645, 1673, BM.
(911) thy / this
BM.
(dir., 921–22) and /
missing
TM. (927) tumble / tumbled
1673.
(dir. 937–38) song ends
TM, BM; no line space 1673.
(938) Lady / sister
BM.
(938–43)
assigned to
El bro:
BM.
(944–55)
assigned to
De:
BM.
(951) there / neere
TM, BM.
(953) thir / this
BM.
(956)
assigned to
el br:
BM;
grow / are
1637, BM.
(dir., 957–58) Exeunt.
TM; presenting
/ and then is præsented
TM, BM; com in
/ enter
TM; country-dancers
/ countrie dances & such like gambols &c.
TM
, Countrie daunces, and the like &c.,
BM; after them
/ at those sports
TM
, towards the end of these sports
BM; Lady.
/ Ladie enter
TM
, ladye come in.
BM; Song
/ the Dæmon sings
TM
, the spiritt singes.
BM.
(dir., 965–66) 2 song.
TM
, 2 songe p
^r
sents … mother.
BM.
(972)
assays / assaye
Morgan copy of 1637. (dir., 975–76) they dance. the dances all ended the Dæmon sings. or sayes
TM, BM.
(976–83, 988–95, 995A, 996, 998–99)
given at beginning of BM.
(976) To the Ocean / ffrom the heavens
BM.
(984–87)
missing
BM. (988) that
deleted by 1673 erratum.
(995A) yellow, watchett, greene & blew
BM.
(996) with / oft with
BM; Elysian
/ Manna
BM.
(997)
missing
BM. (999) young
Adonis
/ many a Cherub
BM;
oft / soft
BM.
(1000–11)
missing
BM. (1012)
not indented
TM; But now / Now
BM.
(1014) green earths / earths greene
BM.
(1018)
not indented
TM, BM. (1020) ye / you
BM.